But if you are taking notes by hand, you won’t be able to write down every word the speaker says. Instead, you’ll have to look for representative quotes, summarize concepts, and ask questions about what you don’t understand.

This requires more effort than just typing every word out — and the effort is what helps cement the material in your memory. The more effort you put into understanding something, the stronger signal you’re giving your brain that it’s worth remembering.

Every since I read this article, I’ve actually taken a notebook to meetings and spent more time writing my notes out by hand instead of typing on my computer.

In fact, I often close my computer these days to take notes because I’ve found that I’m that much more aware of what I’ve written. And frankly, I’m less likely to turn my attention to something that I shouldn’t… like my blog.